Weapons handling unit



Oct. 14, 1,952

R. M. STANLEY mman HANDLING UNIT Oct. 14, 1952"' R. M. STANLEY 2,613,822

WEAPON HANDLING UNIT Filed Dec. 1949 4 sheets-sheet s I l I --J. l

ATTORNEYS' Oct. 14, 1952 R. MSTANLEY wnroN HANDLING UNIT 4 Sheets-sheet4 Fnau nec. fa. 1949 v HQ. Q

' Patented Oct. 14, 1952 Robert Stanleuffalo, Y.,.`assig?nor to StanleyV Aviation Corporatiomeixialo, N'. Y,

Application December A8 1949;.S'erial`No. 131,727

invention. relatesl to AWeapons handlingl equipment, and moreparticularly torequipment for :transporting bombs, torpedoes,guided-missiles, andthe like from stock pilesV or .otherground stationsand'to elevate such weapons into connection with 'bomber aircraft bombbay or wing shackle devices.` l 1 f :Itt is one of theobjects oftheinvention to provide an improved device for picking up a bomb or missileor the `like for transporting Ait to abmber or `missile carryingaircraft, ,and

then elevating it'into'connection with theshackle devices of the:aircraft.'

Another object ofatheinventionis to provide a device ias aforesaid,which includes novel arrangements whereby as the load is eelvated forconnection to, the aircraftrcarrying shackles, the'. load may.v bepositionallymaneuvered relative to I.

the vload receiving-shackle deviceswth utmost facility and .inimproved'manner.

Another object of the-.invention is to provide in 'a ,devicedof'` thevcharacter-described 'an improved'load suspension arrangement wherebythe.. load is supportedin improved mannerduringjtransport.

in la 'mechanismcf the character described improved meansforpositionally maneuvering the z bomb or missile aslit'is elevatedintoshacklecom fleeting position-1' l f It is'another'lobjectfof theinvention to lprovide guided'missiles andthe like.

Other objects yand-*advantages of theinvention Will i appear from' Vthespecification hereinafter. -1

"In the drawing: i

Fig. -1- is a s ideel'evatinai view 'paruyziri section-of -adevic'elo'fthe invention, showing by means of broken and solid lineillustrations .relative positions Aof va loadm'emb'er of the bomb typeduring'different phases of! its handling operation; .Y

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of thelo'ad support'- ing truckvportion ofthefequipmenm.- Y.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sideelevation, onfan enlarged scale, of aportion of-the load handling and positionall;r maneuvering mechanismV ofthe invention; y

Fig. 4` is -airont anism of Fie".A 3;;

Fig. 5 is va top plan view, partly' in y-section,`of

"elevationalV "view 'of the mechtherload lifting andihandling mechanism"of the.I

invention;I .A I

` Fig. 6 is'. a vertical; sc :ctirong4 talrenfalong line VIIIfVIII@Fig-L57; eind,-n I

v various attitudes of pitch and rollyand at' fm pd ,25; `Another objectof the invention is toprovide" zwhereby theboorn device .is projec-tableiritoe 1ig. .'7is a fragmentary vertical section in the plane of 6,-butshowing details of the con-,I Y Structionizin1argersca1e; f l

Eig. k8A is a fragmentary section talen along Fig- 9, is -adiagrammaticillustration of the-. hydraulic. @011.12.1"01 ,System ,Qi the. meehenem-The :inventioncontemplates ,en improved .Q

means for pickingA Ai 1p, lf 1z indlingele'vating and., yloading Weaponsof the .type referred `to here-.

inabove intouconnection with bomb bayer wing shackle devicesof carryingaircraft; and a1s`o fc u l handling such weapons duringpre-iiightchec'l-L ing-procedures For example, with afmissileAmated;,intheam by the device ef gemeenten,

erete rates .ofi pitehn'e-end rolling 'by appropri t men-ipuletionef-iheequipment O f the; -iVeefienf Aleefvthie ewes. .of the-missile mer be,thus ease c S e d andthe missile servo mechanismresponse measured asthe missile is given motions y`corr spending tofpitching rollingandkyawingv motions while in night; Ale'efin. eveniihemissile@11.1.-Vcludesa seeker device .this may be cheeked/iin@ connection with.theeerve meehenieme .eindige l eyresrfto.determiee the-:Overalliunetienineef the-*miseile prier. .te ite efperldiiufeff: .,Alee. bysuspending the,l missile vf roni a sling `at/tfachm .to the lifting boomof the device, the..cnte ererity,;.ef the-meeile-mey be.reedlrdeieflfned:

f' illustrated in Figs.. 1 and 2,. the invention is illustrated toinclude two separate 4units.` com-5 prisme e tegels desienetedaeeeerellret l0. 0. direetmeuetiee fthereen ,0fe.mise;1etorpes' or bomb suer; asis; designated. l2; vand a handling-)- unitfsenerelly*deeieneted I5.Whieli 'ieeeeeerefiee ef-boem leerie,eend Operative-Iieehenismftherefef.

gagementwith the .load truci; `fori,bfo 'd i1;;ri, lifting thetruekendits loaden@-treneperfineeed e1e`` vatingthe vloadasinto-the-b0mb bay of, anlai'rfg eraf-t orfieto .eenneeea Wthwneeheekle devieeezwhle ,maneuvering the-leed eeeeiriie. eefcurate-alignment With-the. IneuntineA Sheekleea.' ee i willlee-explained hereinafter;

The load carrying-truck device I ll to"- .comprise e-freeterleulevrframe.

upon drectionally fixedv Wheels-1j 1 and castering wheels i8; therevbeing provided -a 'ca steringjfmo-V tion llocking pin device :19" forlockingeachfof the ,A l'

wheels against "castering," whenever" -required:A4

bn' 'Y "dirctionsfftransversely oflthe -1 longit'udia xisfi-thedcarriageQuint. l'. suitable` hy'fdrali fluniet-outletfonnectionsi are -pro-'f vided a opposite-end's'lofithe'ferssslide-cylinder sumas are 'adamant-.l:lzwtlsxrigreo;

'.:mhusei' ,Y weaponi loadeduponthe truck? f| Ulandithelbooml-tdevice'o'f-A thenni-t l5 is .loweredasl to .the7 broken-'norcuponL::operationr iiither-booxnfv contrnlicylinderf.,.theLrboomf-maybeelevated soif position ioftl'ie. Apartsasillstratedfins Fig.; La?. In

order'tofinsref positioningaof the .truck 10.20

upon'the iilifting. ,platform 1 .plates 611,1 :the: truck frame .willpreferablyiincludeat .the under surface 1 thereotla .bo'xf'shapedA angeformation |41 iinto whiehiztheaplatformtop platel is adapted :toslip-'1:

lineiposition thereof i shown in :--;E.ig:.1f,. the unit l5.Y

may ,be towedby means offa tractor or :thelike :to

thie.-..position; ofvploadingnr testing; of the.y weapon.; 1For-example; as illustrated inV Fig'. .1,.if theprob-f..

lem .is: to \'load:.the. weaponinto. connectionwithfv 30 carryingshackles 5.; extending ,from ithe under... side .of .an.airplaneaving'gasf. indicated..at...| I6, Athe i unit.1.|,5 :will.iirstpbe drawn. into. thetapproximate estimated i location thereof for.loading.. oi: the.

weapom andfthen.,.the 4boom device. .will fbe caused. 35

to, :elevate l. soi as .to 4bring .the i weapcnfeuprintof.. proximitywith therairplane.fwingvvshackles'; 5 jAs the; .weapon ,iselevatedztoward; the position.7 of. the shackles: ||5,1; 1.the.positionalgalignment ofthe.

weapon yrelativetoi theshacklesgis checked, andarlo aligrnnent.corrections 4 effected- .as rfollows.. v.Minor fore. .anda/ft.-displacements of.y the. weapon.- in di-f. rectionslongitndinallythereofxnaybe effected by.: operation biz-the; platform Islide cynnder194.-, while lateral displaceinents` o ffthegweapon-.may fbe. ;ef45

fected. by` operation, ofthe cros'skslilecylinder.; I 04'.

Pitch. adjustments: .otN tho,weapon.1mayr be; readily'. eiected byoperation. Qi... the;nlatiormrptilting.: oylinderfffi and:.,azi.1i.111fth;.y adjustments .tha

tudinal axis, ifl required ffonaooiirate alignment;

with; the...co.n.nooting f s1,1r.w.1. ;1es@A y.. manualoperaf tion oithe .truokrollor hanclcrank J24..; ...T huS. 55'.

theweapons. ,univorsallyimarient/creible .in atti:y tado. .Well@Sadisplaoemont relative. tov thereon:

nootingshaoklos oasrofibv; .thet airplane. wingor :order to. maintaintho loadffoaryie'. plate @o forminanapproximatelv horizontal. attitude.at

'airtimes during elevating and. lov/.orme .of the.`

.Carriage boom.. tho fplatformi ti1t oontrol..oy1i.r1:.. der- .;.is---hydraulically. interconnected-. with. an,

pivotant .fixodat one, endftoa bracket l2 I oa1.r..l riad-bythe; vehicleiframe@ Thea-piston rod .|2211 oi tbezoylindor 12.0. pivotallvconnectent|23tof an f* intermediate portionotono otthestiff arm struts: f. 42.39 Athefboomepivots aboutthe aligned pins .3 37%33 Athe piston. rod- 22 'iiscorrespondinglyv displacedzrelaf tivettothe cylinderl2 0;. l Conduiteinterconne:zting .cppositeiends cf= the -cy1indersz60.andzl20 profs11i.. te' fappreeiatedlthatnwhenever' at v :positionofftheicenter:ot'llgravity of 15;

- respectively to thehydraulic-.jack units |10',4 60, 194,;

60 coincident withadisplacem'ent. of fluidliwithin the cylinder 20.; andthe connection'between the piston-rod |22 .andthefstrut arm 42 is soarranged that the cylinder |20 will control the cylinder 60.1 i*toautoma'tically"pivotzthedoad platform relative tothe .boom Isoras .tolat-.all times-maintain asube stantially horizontal. attitude,ycoincident vwith elevating and lowering movements of the boom.

However, as .will .be explained morefully herein.- l

aftertathe operator. isat all .times in'possession ,of independentcontrol of the .tilt control cylinder..

pwherebythe load maybe adjusted about the pitchaxis thereof by.manipulation .of the control.

system towbe .'described'hereinafter. J

As illustrated .at Figs'. l and5 of the' drawing.. aloading positionindicator 4r'nay =be= provided .in

conjunction .with thetrailer unit; said indicator comprising a stiffwand |25 whichv is mountedby.. means of an uprightv |26. 'extendinginto=fLxed connection with any suitable bracket portionof i the vehicleframe. The wand and its mounting structure .is iso.' shapedanddimensionedr that. the ball=-tipf end portion |28thereofzvindicatesfthei exact position to .which the: front4 bomb;.shackle lug-of-:the Weapon is .lifted when theboom is elevated.. asshown for example. in Fig; L: 4'-'lhus,:g the .trailer andit'sweaponfload:maybepmaneuvered around beneathifthaairplane. bomb:b-ayorf wing'. untilv thel .ball tipg end.' of;- .th'e fwand touches.;the front hook'A of thawing." shackle-.I` The trailer mayathen. beparked. with itsv brakes set,f:andtha- .Y

load :thenv elevated. with assurance that it will. ara;

riveoat. correct 4position vfor; connection with ithe.:

shackles on the. wing,I requiringionly; minimum. final vinoveifnentsofVthe lifting platform relative.l to the boomas explained'hereinabove pgA "Asshown in Fig. .3, apullinghookwl 30;*may-@beconveniently mountedupon thel .platform structureso as `tobe .readily available .for:connection to.v

any-suitable towing device, whereby. the nnitmay bevemployed. for,miscellaneous towing purposes., Also; as shown in Figs. :3; and 6, a.lifting eyef` .|32 may be conveniently. mounted under 'tl'iegtopendfjIportionof .thev boom 32. for engagement 'with suit-J -able'hook or other.lift devices, whereby. theboom .f mayv be used for.. miscellaneous,lifting purposes.

aswell .las for 'initiallygrappling.;alweapomzand lifting it from aistookepile or the likeiintQpDS-y" tion .upon thetruck. 0 for .subsequentvhandling as. y

draulic .control system for. .theactuator '..elements oftthefmechanismdescribedihereinabove.: .z'lhuS,`.-.

thediagram includes. a4 .fluid 'supply tank $1.34 agI Fig. 4, thecontrol valveiactuator.,elementsmay;` beirconveni'ently mounted.upon Ya``panel .carried adj acentg, the load platform, sol that.. theloperator;

l thereoflmay stand ata position v.providingatthe-f sameg'timeconvenientaccess to the control valves; and-tothe weapon shacklingoperation.. 1.55.

5..Referringagain.A to 1Fig.; 9, the control valves |3.1,..|38,|39;;1|'4u areof the. ffounwayfcrreverse direction :type .and 'arelhydraulically connected a and'. |04 --by .means .of .suitableconduits.. .soV A.that-..-

' thezcontrolvalves may vbie .selectively operateditof.. the-boom..t.russ.st1uoturo,whereby-whenever 7o.

provide .controlled actuation of .thejackfdevices gina. eitherdirectonof operation thereof as arequired.

' for; vtlie .weapon .maneuvering operation'sireferred to. hereinabove;Aireturnvconduit I 4 2J issarranged.y .1

to zconveygthe:returningiuidiito@ the'. supply: tank...

asi-tassa@- acfuatedsequauzeastaccata-'rio isahydrauupf callyfintercomiectedffwith thefactuator jackV 60V for.' th'e automaticplatform--control operation-ex,- plainedhereinabove;A y

Itzwill of'course be;.appreciated` that actual. practice the; hydraulic'controlzsystem' of Fig. ,I 9.

maypreferably be supplemented` bysuitable pressureA accumulator and:overload relief devices...'as

well asfluidafilter and other such .suitable acces#y sories'fas'arewelldrnown'inthe hydraulic operator art;..and.. that; "the'fpump.mechanismvof the. unit. Y, Y

understood .that thervariousoperations of the elementsofthe .unit fof.-the invention may. be.. otherwisepoweredy by anysuitable: power supplymeans,.'and.that.al1.or any of the motion actuator mechanismsmaybe'either manually or mechanicallyor-'electrically powered.. as maybe preferred..

I claim: 1'. A.' weapons .handling unit. comprising '.a mobile.;r boomvdevice-having.v a; load lifting' end pore-- tiem a: platform mountedupon said boo-m portion' for rotationthereon about a pitch; change axisparallel lto the axisof'. boom elevatioma hydraulic.

jack. device.- interconnecting; said boom and said.

platformxfor rotating the Alatter 'relative lto said boom," a. secondhydraulic.: jack device connected tozsaid" boom forfelevating the;latter.. a.. thirdhy.-

draulic...jack.,4 device. interconnecting said frame and-saidboomiforiactuationin response. to movement ofsai'dqboom'.and-.hydraulically .interconv necte'dff: wthil said first?.-mentioned jack device whereby displa'cementxcf uidlwithin said thirdjack device causes'.y Vautomatic operation. of said Ilrstvjack device.to maintain .said platform sub-y stantially horizontal throughout. allelevating movementsiof said boom, acarriage. comprising a u framesupported upon'groundiwheels and .adapted to` beloadedwithaweapon andtowed from place to pla'ce'and to vmountupon ,said platform inposiftionally rigid attitudefthereon, said .carriage in-w clu'ch'ngfpairedlrollerf.devices adapted to receivev in cradled relation.therebetween a; generally cylindrical weapon, means for rotatingsaid'roller,

means: for. rolling said: weapon' relative .to said carriage-about the.longitudinal. axis.. of saidweapon.: `memsior. rotating. said. platform.relative to said boom independentlyxof'actuation.of

said' platform. vin..responseto. operation'. of .said third vjack"dev-cef.A meansrfor' rotating" said :platform in azimuth relative. tosaidboom, meansif'orA displacing'said platform` in directionshorizontal.`

longitudinally of. said boom, and means for displacinggisald. platformrelative vto said. boomy in. horizontal directions'v transverse Vto thelongitudif'"v nal'directionvof saidb'oomzl 2. 'Ai weapons handling unit;comprising a mo!V bile boom devicehavingraload lifting end portiom.azplatform'mounted upon said boom portion for... rotation thereon.about'a'. pitchv change' axis: parzallel to theraxisof boom' elevation;4a hydraulic."

jackldevicey interconnecting saidf boom andy said platformv'forrotating' thev latter relative tosaid boom,` asecond' hydraulic:jack device connected;

to'said boom? for elevating the latter, a. third hyH draulic 'jack'devicer .interconnectingsai'd framel and saldboom' for actuation in'response to movement zof :said boom. andY hydraulically interconnected'with said fusti-mentioned jack device: whereby displacement-'of fluidWithin. said .third jackxdevicef. causes; automatic operation fof." saidr' nrst'. jack' vdevice to maintain'. said. platform:sub.-.. stantiallyhorizontal'. throughoutxall... elevating; 75?

mortemenfasi-cf.saidn boom.ar-.carriage..mounted., upon said platformin'gzpositionallyrrigid attitude thereon and..y includingg; paired..roller;` devices.: adanted'to ,receive in #cradled relation. -tl'ierebeaY tween a.v generally cylindrical.. weapon-means for..

`'and meanafor displacing'said platform relatives-to said4 boomin:horizontal .directionstransverse tof-.1 thelongitudinal.directionfof.said boom. and along@ an axis: coincident.torsaid pitchichangefaxisgj 3. A weaponszhandling.A unitcomprising amo-fbile frame carryinglthereonf-a pivotedzboom dev-leeg. havinga:loadliftingendportion, means for'pivob-f ing.y said`y boomfrelative.to' said`w frame, `a' platform. mounted upon.' said: boomy forzrotationthereon. about afrst axsparallelzto a secondaxisofiboom..

f *.fpivoting.. arst: hydraulic; actuator interconnect-l ing saidv boom.and. saidplatform forrotatingther: latter: relative tosaid boomAabout's'aid first-axis;v asecond.v hydraulicfactuatori interconnecting,said:y frame; and saidboomfor: actuation thereby'inresponsesto movement..ofzsai'd boom and intercomr nected.. with said'. rstf'hydraulic.;actuator.' .bya' means of.a1' closed'.v hydraulic'. conduit.V-circuitl'lwhereby pivoting;` of.: said boom'. causes automation.voperation'v of .said first actuatoriftc maintain` said. platform.substantially horizontal ,throughoutA all.. movements-ofgsa'id .boom,.aibase plate.4 pivoted to. said platform for rotationthereonin.azimuth,.a:.l carriage. adapted, to mountgsaid base plate and.in'cluding. roller.:l devices. `radapted to receive.. in rcradled relation.therebetween a. generally cylin-' djrical'. shaped` weaponrmeans forrotating one of, said roller .'devic'es. for rolling: saldweaponrela-1vk tive .to' saidV carriage. about the. longitudinal -axisfiofsaid weapongfmeanslforrotating'said base plate'l .inazimutha relativeYto. saidy platform, means.A- for4 displacingsaidlplatformrelativeftosaidboom in* horizontal directions;longitudinallyfot saidboom. andlzmeans'-l for displacing said` platform' relative:yto-'Lsa-idlboomnin-horizontal .directions transverses to :thelongitudinal direction of: said. boom.

4. A Weapons handling .unit comprising-amo'- bile` boomdevice-` having'az load'Av -liftingend portion, -afpla-tforrnfmounted upon .said boomportion.- for 1 rotation thereon` abouta..pitch. change. axis.' parallelto the axis of boom-elevation,y an'actuator' device interconnectingsaidboom and-said plat-- form-'for -rotating the 'latter relative to saidboom', asecond actuator connected to'said boom for-ele-v vating thelatter, a thirdactuator'interconnect-d ing-said frame andV said boom foractuation in responsefto movementof said boom and intercon-Y nected'with said nrstmentioned actuator wherebytocauseautomatic operation ofsaid rstactu@ ator tomaintain said platform substantially horl'-zont'althroug-houtall elevating vmovements of" incradled relationvtherebetween' a generally cyl lindricalweapon, means fori rotating'said rollermeansfor rolling said-weaponrelative to. said carriagevabout`thel longitudinal' axis of said weapon.' j means for.- rotating: saidplatform. relative. to said j boom' independentlyV of` actuation of saidplatform im responsefto; operation of saidtthird: actuator-,'-

means for rotating said platform in azimuth relative to said boom, meansfor displacing said platform in horizontal directions longitudinally ofsaid boom. and means for displacing said platform relative to said boomin horizontal directions transverse to the longitudinall direction ofsaid boom and along an axis coincident to said pitch change axis.

ROBERT M. STANLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file ofthis patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Brown June 8, 1915 Trimbach` Aug;8, 1944 Maxon, Jr. June 26, 1945 Gorsuch Apr. 1, 1947 Fraga fSept. 14,1948 Ryan Nov. 30, 1948

